Help! 10 weeks old, suddenly refusing the breast

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

All day long Medi has been windy and spitty but happy enough. Then at 4.30 pm she started to feed on the left but started to bob on and off and then began to cry. Like serious crying  . I winded her and winded her but only got a little up, but each time she cried harder. I finally got her to calm down and take a feed on the right. So two feeds in a row on the right, and next it's bedtime. Eek, help!

[KookyK]

DS did this when he was ill with a virus. He had barely a temp but due to screaming and refusing to feed I got him checked out which I how I know. I did a lot if rocking and offered boob two hourly or more if interested. He fed only 1-3 mins each time but it was enough to keep him hydrated. It took a while for his feeding to pick up but it did.

He also got the hump with my faster let down boob for a few weeks. I had to start feeding him sort if sitting up turning his head in rather than holding him straight under my arm. He still prefers this position. He doesn't mind that boob now !

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

Strangely she was refusing the side opposite the one that normally has fast let down. It is possible she's coming down with something as dd1 has a cold.

Bedtime went okay. She was a bit wary latching on, sucked well for a couple of minutes and then got gassy. I was able to wind her this time and she fed ok.

I like your suggestion of sitting her up to feed, I think I'll try that. Thanks.

[*Ali*]

If her nose is a bit blocked she may be having trouble breathing and feeding at the same time. You could try laying her in a rugby hold so she is laying on her opposite side when feeding from the same boob she just refused. It might even be worth getting her ears checked for an infection which can make laying on one side uncomfortable.

If it is a stuffy nose then taking her outside in the cold can help alleviate the constricted nasal passages. Saline spray may be ok for her age too but obviously check the bottle or with your dr.

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

She's perfectly fine today. Go figure!  I was freaking out over nothing. Thanks for all your suggestions though.

[*Ali*]

Glad to hear she is back to her usual self

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

Spoke too soon.  She refused it again this afternoon but quite happily sucked from the other.

[*Ali*]

Did you try some of the tips above?

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

I did try feeding her sitting up, not a lot of luck though. She has a very stiff neck and doesn't like to turn her head too much to the right. We are waiting for a hospital appointment for that though.
I think it might be a fast letdown now. She starts off ok then starts to freak out once it starts rushing out.

[*Ali*]

Lots of ideas here for dealing with Overactive let down. Oversupply and Overactive (Forceful) Let-Down

Would a rugby hold help?

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

I tried the rugby hold this morning and she was much happier. We had a horrendous night last night and she was hungry every 2.5 hours. Funnily enough she was quite happy to suck on the left in the middle of the night .

I will check out that link, thanks.

[*Ali*]

Maybe the neck muscles are uncomfortable for her laying on a certain side and that is why the rugby hold helped. In the night she may be so relaxed that it doesn't bother her so much. Hopefully if you can get that sorted it will help.

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

She has thrush in her mouth . I can hardly get her to feed at all today. She's on nystatin since yesterday afternoon but it's not helping yet. Poor little thing .

[*Ali*]

Oh no. If it doesn't help soon I'd go back to ask for something stronger? Are you treating your breast as well? Otherwise you can keep reinfect isn't each other.